Review of Chatter Creek’s Barrel Roll, a bourbon barrel aged cider.  It is my first time trying this, but I’ve previously had their Pilot Project Batch ‘1’ Golden Cider and Chaider Clipper.

Cider:  Barrel Roll
Cidery:  Chatter Creek
Cidery Location:  Woodinville WA
ABV:  9.4%
How Supplied:  500ml bottle, crown cap, attached flip top
Style:  American craft cider from dessert apples, bourbon barrel aged

 

Availability:  Seattle WA area, plus online sales (to AK, AZ, CA, DC, HI, IL, MN, MO, OR, and WA)

Cider Description:  This cider was aged for 4 months in American oak barrels that had been used to age JP Trodden Bourbon Whiskey. It is bone dry and displays the balance of oak and apple aromas. About a third of the apples used in the blend are Granny Smith, which provide the nice snap in the finish. Only 4 barrels of this were produced and it is only available through the winery tasting room or a few select taps around town. 

Cidery Description:  Gordon Rawson has been making grape wine since the 80s, and started Chatter Creek in 1996.  Cider is a more recent venture however.  All the cider names and labels are aviation-themed.  They have a tasting room in Woodinville WA, Northeast of Seattle.

Price:  $9.99
Where Bought:  Brigid’s Bottleshop in Edmonds WA
Where Drank:  home
How Found:  Browsing.  This was my first time visiting this bottle shop.  They had a great bottle selection, but had higher prices than anywhere else I’d seen.  They also had 1 rotating cider on tap I think.

First Impression:  Light straw yellow hue.  Very low carbonation.  Smells mild, of alcohol (bourbon).

Tasting Notes:  Dry.  Light bodied.  Low to moderate tartness and acidity.  Hints of bitterness and tannins.  No sourness or funk.  Notes of bourbon, oak, vanilla, and lemon.  Long boozy finish.  Low flavor intensity, apple flavor, barrel influence, and sessionability.  Moderate bourbon influence.  Low to moderate complexity.

My Opinion:  I liked the bourbon flavor.  However, overall the cider was a bit harsh for my tastes, between the dryness and high ABV, and I prefer a higher flavor intensity.  I think backsweetening with honey would have been great (to end up with a flavor profile like Big B’s Grizzly Brand or 2 Towns The Bad Apple).  I’d recommend this for folks who enjoy bourbon / spirits.

Most Similar to:  Locust Bourbon Barrel Aged (although that was higher ABV) and Carlton Cyderworks Slake (although that was semi-dry)

Closing Notes:  Of the three ciders I’ve tried from Chatter Creek so far, my favorite was Pilot Project Batch ‘1’ Golden Cider.

Have you tried barrel aged cider?  What did you think?